News

2026.07.31

Special lecture by Kazufumi Miyazawa “Songs Shaped by Travel, People Met Along the Way”

I-House hosts Special Lectures for Members featuring distinguished practitioners from various fields to foster exchange among members.

For our next lecture, we are pleased to welcome singer-songwriter Kazufumi Miyazawa, the former lead vocalist of the band The Boom.

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Miyazawa formed The Boom in 1986 and wrote many of the band’s most memorable songs, including “Shima Uta” (Island Song) and “Kaze ni Naritai” (I Want to Become the Wind). He continues to perform actively as a solo artist and as a member of the multinational band Ganga Zumba. He celebrated the 35th anniversary of his professional debut in 2024.

Over the years, Miyazawa has traveled extensively around the world, from the islands of Okinawa to destinations in South America and elsewhere, immersing himself in diverse musical traditions and cultures.
These journeys have shaped his music and writings across a wide range of genres, as he draws inspiration from the traditions of each place he visits.

He is also deeply committed to preserving the natural and cultural environments that sustain music.
Miyazawa is notably involved in the Kuruchi Forest 100-Year Project in Yomitan, an initiative to ensure the future supply of kuruchi (Ryukyu ebony)—the slow-growing blackwood used for the neck of the Okinawa sanshin.

In this lecture, Miyazawa will reflect on how his travels inspire new music and on his efforts to protect the environments where such music is born and to pass these legacies on to future generations.

A special mini-live performance is also planned as part of the event. We hope you will join us.

Speaker: Kazufumi Miyazawa
Date: Monday, September 28, 2026, 7:30–8:45 pm (including reception)
Venue: Iwasaki Koyata Memorial Hall
Language: Japanese (without interpretation)
Admission:
I-House members and one accompanying guest: 6,000 yen/person
*Please present your membership card at the reception desk in front of the venue on the day of the event.
*Fee includes networking reception (light refreshments and beverages).
Start of Registration: Friday, July 31, 12:00 pm

How to Register
Online or by phone.
Online: Apply via the link at the bottom of this page (redirects to an external ticketing site).
Phone: 03-3470-9115

Payment Methods
Online registration:
Credit card / debit card / prepaid card / bank transfer / convenience store / ATM

Phone registration:
bank transfer
*Any transfer fees incurred via bank transfer or convenience store/ATM are the responsibility of the payer.

Cancellation Policy
As a rule, cancellations after application cannot be accepted. Please be aware of this policy before applying.

Kazufumi Miyazawa (Singer-Songwriter)
Born in 1966 in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture, Miyazawa made his debut in 1989 as the lead vocalist of The Boom. He released 14 albums with the band, followed by 7 solo albums and 2 albums as a member of the multinational band Ganga Zumba. After The Boom disbanded in 2014, he took a creative hiatus before resuming his singing career in 2018.

In 2022, marking both the 30th anniversary of his signature song “Shima Uta” and the 50th anniversary of Okinawa’s reversion to Japan, he performed actively throughout Okinawa and mainland Japan. “Shima Uta” remains one of his most acclaimed works, beloved not only in Japan but internationally, and has received music awards in three categories in Argentina.

As a prolific composer and lyricist, he has provided works for numerous artists, including Atari Kousuke, Sayuri Ishikawa, Claudia Oshiro, Jun’ichi Okada, Minami Kizuki, Shokichi Kina, KinKi Kids, Kyoko Koizumi, Fuyumi Sakamoto, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Sandii, Hiroko Shimabukuro, SMAP, Yukihiro Takahashi, Diamantes, Rimi Natsukawa, Ayaka Hirahara, Misia, and Akiko Yano.

He currently serves as a part-time lecturer at the Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts.
In 2024, celebrating the 35th anniversary of his debut, he released the commemorative album 35.

Official website:
https://www.miyazawa-kazufumi.jp

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Special lecture by Kazufumi Miyazawa “Songs Shaped by Travel, People Met Along the Way”

International House of Japan

American Friends of IHJ